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Declaration Against Pan-African Colors and Affirmation of Freedmen Colors


Defending the Visual and Cultural Identity of Verified Freedmen


In a decisive action to protect the historical and cultural integrity of Verified Freedmen, the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust has issued the Declaration Against Pan-African Colors and Affirmation of Freedmen Colors. This official document draws a clear line between the identity of Freedmen and the Pan-African symbolism that has been inaccurately imposed on Juneteenth and other Freedmen-related observances.


For decades, red, black, and green—the Pan-African flag introduced in 1920 by Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association—have been applied to events and narratives that have no connection to the U.S. Freedmen experience. These colors represent a global African identity, not the legal, historical, and constitutional legacy of Freedmen who were emancipated under the Thirteenth Amendment and fought for rights guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment and Civil Rights Act of 1866.


The Trust affirms that the only accurate and historically grounded colors representing Freedmen are:


  • Red – Symbolizing the blood shed by the enslaved in the fight for liberation

  • White – Representing the legal promise of U.S. citizenship and civil rights

  • Blue – Representing national belonging and military service to the United States


These colors reflect the Juneteenth flag—not Pan-African ideology—and symbolize the distinct American origin and lawful status of Freedmen.

Why This Declaration Matters


This Declaration:


  • Rejects all unauthorized use of red, black, and green in Juneteenth or Freedmen-related events

  • Establishes red, white, and blue as the exclusive color scheme for Verified Freedmen representation

  • Reinforces the legal and cultural difference between Freedmen and broader diasporic classifications such as “African American,” “BIPOC,” or “Pan-African”

  • Empowers the Trust to enforce takedown notices, licensing standards, and representation guidelines

Enforcement Authority


The American Freedmen Legal Fund, operating under the authority of the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust, will continue to monitor, issue cease-and-desist notices, and pursue legal remedies when the Freedmen identity is rebranded, reclassified, or misrepresented.


This Declaration ensures cultural self-determination, historical accuracy, and legal clarity for all Verified Freedmen.


They can read the full Declaration here:

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